It's Isolation Time so I don't feel bad about making you read all of this.

Are you used to attending up to all three of the Ridge Assemblage Weekends (March April May) and bringing your older Ridges to picnics, while Eric Baugher walks around with Monte Bello three liters? But March didn't happen, April is unlikely, and who knows about May, so let's do this. September or early October would be nice.

Rules:

You must bring an older Ridge wine, 2004 or earlier (I would prefer to make it 1999 or earlier but that's too hard on people). I mean must; not fair to those who do bring, because these wines, the zins and petites and ATP's, are becoming rare and pricey. Buy one from a friend or attendee at market value if you have to. Don't ask to bring a non-Ridge white or sparkling wine "instead" (Champagne in addition to, not instead of, your older Ridge is welcome). No other wines than older Ridge (and Champagne as an additional bottle). Please don't bring any other wine. No exceptions. If you don't own or can't acquire older Ridge, it's not an event for you anyway even though you'd like to drink ours. Snotty of me but I have reasons. I'll make a list of attendees and what wine each person is bringing to ensure all this. The reason is fairness. You can bring an extra one for your empty handed friend but please identify both, she/he will be listed by me privately with that bottle, PM ok, I'll honor your non-Berserker friend who doesn't want her/his name on the Internet.

No flagship Monte Bello please, it'll either be surreptitiously passed around a smaller group with favoritism which is always demoralizing for those left out, or the person who brought it will get very little. Other wines from Monte Bello vineyards ok. Wines from up North very ok. Older Ridge whites OK but 2004 or older. I'm bringing Essences (375ml) from three different vintages plus some dry non-Flagship reds.

I am hoping for outdoors. I'd like a pretty park in the flatlands (within Uber/Lyft range for everyone, therefore not at Ridge). Many beautiful parks allow alcohol with food. I'll clear in advance any venue with the Rangers. There might be an issue with glass stemware, I'll check.

Bring your own stemware.

Pot luck. Watch your pots and utensils, even at Ridge things left behind for more than 30 minutes tend to disappear when the owner returns looking for it.

I think this will be the last one-winery-theme event I organize (unless Dominique Laurent visits the area). Chris Ringland/Three Rivers, Rhys, Williams Selyem Burt Williams era, and now Ridge all have meaning for me. So far the winemaker (or special surrogate, thanks Blake) has attended, but I don't expect that, Eric eg might be doing a Ridge event in Bodega Bay and Mr. Draper is sick of my rookie questions. I can't think of another single winery that would motivate me after this one. I was hoping to do an older Ridge thing this fall even before the virus hit.

The event will be free. Bring wine, stemware, potluck, minimize plastic by bringing plates, utensils, water. Anyone who wants to grill, let me know so I can get a site with a grill, I bet several of us would like to bring stuff for you to grill LOL, there's few better foods to go with old Ridge reds than stuff, including veggies, fresh off the grill.

One more rule if there's more than 12 people. No hoarding your wine for this particular gathering. It goes on a separate wine table, not hidden in your bag between pours for your friends, not in front of your table group all day which I do. Instead pour yourself a glass then put it on the wine table so no one gets shut out or has to walk up to you and muster up the courage to ask for a pour and get met with a passive aggressive well ok. I might have someone staff the pouring table so that someone does not pour a glass of the oldest wine there, dump it out, saying she doesn't like it, and then change her mind and pour another glass of the same wine and then one for her husband, which I have seen, I brought the bottle, my only one. I might even print out a list of the wines and it's checked off when you get a pour.

This is not a Ridge picnic with your little group among other little groups. I don't know what it is.

Last edited by George Chadwick on April 17th, 2020, 11:33 am, edited 25 times in total.

While you're checking, just an FYI. By then, drinking wine at ten AM in your jammies won't be acceptable any more, especially in a park. Actually who knows, people seem to be hoping this era will lead to permanent lifestyle changes.

Combining weather (is late October too cold? beginning of September too hot which for me is worse?) and harvest considerations can you identify a good window?

Harvest starts mid to late August. September is busiest. October is moderate. Maybe something will come in as late as November. Then there are press days... Depends who all I end up working for.

Summer, at a venue that's not too hot would be best for me. Either mid-June, between the Final Assemblage and 4th of July, or mid-July to mid-August.

For June, I'm not willing to organize something that soon and then have to cancel, too likely to be illegal. Let's make it August 10 to October 30.

George I have to say, if the plague has passed by then Winfred and I will be there as long as long it's a weekend. You'll have to sell me something because I don't own any Ridge, or perhaps you'll let us buy our way in with food/dessert...

I’m interested. I’ll look into sourcing a bottle or if I’m unsuccessful, perhaps I can purchase one from you. Given the outlook for CA and the info I’m getting from from my journalist daughter who is covering the virus full-time, I bet we’re still SIP through June.

George - Jill and I would both like to attend. We have some older Ridge wines that meet your criteria. If someone has specific bottles they really want to see make an appearance, we are happy to fund the purchase of those instead - or as well. It just looks like a recipe for fun!

Also, just to toss out suggestions - the Patriot Corner at Shoup Park in Los Altos might meet your criteria. Centrally located, free parking, restrooms, can be reserved in advance, grills, prep areas, picnic tables, etc. They do allow alcohol - but with a permit I believe. We must have someone capable of filling our city government forms in this group! More info at: https://www.losaltosca.gov/recreation/p ... shoup-park

Also, just to toss out suggestions - the Patriot Corner at Shoup Park in Los Altos might meet your criteria. Centrally located, free parking, restrooms, can be reserved in advance, grills, prep areas, picnic tables, etc. They do allow alcohol - but with a permit I believe. We must have someone capable of filling our city government forms in this group! More info at: https://www.losaltosca.gov/recreation/p ... shoup-park

Sounds good, I'll do a drive-by before August. I don't know parks north of Saratoga. Yours is better located.

While you're checking, just an FYI. By then, drinking wine at ten AM in your jammies won't be acceptable any more, especially in a park. Actually who knows, people seem to be hoping this era will lead to permanent lifestyle changes.

I'm in depending on the date. Thanks. Really missing these gatherings - I was just starting to get the hang of things.

I also was getting the hang of them. Miss the group and tasting unfamiliar wine. I have decided that Ridge wines are not for me after several tries with different grapes and blends, so I will pass on this now but will be happy for the next meet-up. Be well all!

Would love to join, and will confirm as things firm up. Hope everyone is hanging in there.

Bring another magnum of 1992 Old Hill like last time. Cross out the Ravenswood and write in Ridge with a sharpie and we're cool. That wine was killer, nothing like it. I've had a lot of Old Hill 1994-95 and that was different. Maybe just a well-stored magnum amongst the damaged wines I brought (no apologies from me about that, I tried, and it all turned out well). But I don't think so, it was like a beast lurking in a dark cave.

Actually don't, older Ridge only, but that was a great wine.

Last edited by George Chadwick on April 17th, 2020, 11:36 am, edited 1 time in total.

Would love to join, and will confirm as things firm up. Hope everyone is hanging in there.

Bring another magnum of 1992 Old Hill like last time. Cross out the Ravenswood and write in Ridge with a sharpie and we're cool. That wine was killer, nothing like it. I've had a lot of Old Hill 1994-95 and that was different. Maybe just a well-stored magnum amongst the damaged wines I brought (no apologies from me about that, I tried, and it all turned out well). But I don't think so, it was like a beast lurking in a dark cave.

I’ve only got an 01, but would love to hear more, especially if some might be interested in a pre-event round of golf.

Golf where?

Not sure where this would be held, so not sure what part of the Bay Area to consider. Also depends on how many people and their interest level. Haven't played Harding Park before, but I know that is not for everyone.

Last edited by T. Altmayer on May 12th, 2020, 8:12 am, edited 1 time in total.

This is starting to feel like a "somewhere along Highway 280" event. Harding Park or Lincoln, then down 280 to Mark Sutherland's Los Altos public park, or maybe in a woodsy picnic table type area in a state park like Wunderlich. Lots of time to figure it out and form a consensus. I'm someone who sucks at golf but never slows others down, I don't look for balls if it takes too long and I'm happy to pick up. I'd say I've played ten rounds in the past eight years.

Ashish, did you grab the '05 Estate Cab for $45? Killer price. That was gone when I got to K&L's site.

I got 2 btls each of '00 Geyserville and '05 Old School Zin. I've opened both for the Monte Bello picnics and they've been great. Between those and the 7 bottles of Ridge I've won recently via WineBid, I'm pretty well set.